Riverside’s police chief says that an investigation into an alleged home invasion on Sept. 14 has been stopped in its tracks because the victim has refused to cooperate.
Police say that the wheelchair-bound victim banged on a neighbor’s door yelling for help at about 2:30 p.m. after he was allegedly robbed by a man inside his apartment in the 3400 block of Harlem Avenue.
A neighbor called 911 and after police responded, the victim reportedly told police that a man armed with two handguns entered his apartment, kicked him out of his wheelchair onto the floor and then took items from the apartment, including his cellphone, wallet and a duffel bag full of cash.
The victim reportedly told police he was “set up,” but refused to elaborate on what he meant and has since stopped cooperating with police. Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said the victim has refused to speak with detectives or allow his apartment to be processed for evidence. Weitzel said there were no signs of forced entry to the apartment.
The neighbor who called 911 did not witness the robbery and called only after the victim began banging on the door asking for help. No other residents of the building reported hearing anything prior to the man yelling for help or seeing any offenders.
Video cameras in the vicinity of the building did not capture anything unusual, said Weitzel.
Without the victim’s help, said Weitzel, there’s not much more police can do.
“There was obviously an armed home invasion and a violent act, but it is not possible for police to move forward with the investigation when the victim adamantly does not want to cooperate,” Weitzel said. “We have tried numerous times since the incident to continue to follow up with evidence processing, further interviews and see if he may know the offender, but the victim has refused to talk to any police officials.”
